The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

La Roux

La Roux (Polydor)

Absolutely everything about the Mercury Prize-nominated debut by
British synth-pop duo La Roux screams retro. Anyone born before 1990
will recognize Elly Jackson's Flock of Seagulls/Annie Lennox stylistic
mash-up, the early '80s new wave synthesizer and drum machine
combination that comes directly from the likes of Yazoo and OMD and the
emotional isolationism and lost-love lyricism that's been championed by
disenfranchised musicians everywhere. It would be easy to toss La Roux
aside if the tracks weren't so damn infectious. The big question,
though, is how long can something so transparent stay interesting
beyond its initial breakthrough appeal?